Are Arkansas Vital Records Open to the Public?
Yes. Records of marriage, divorce, birth, and death older than 100 years are public records. Thus, any interested person may obtain a copy of such records. However, newer vital records are only available to the public with authorization. The provisions for the disclosure of vital records are as specified in Arkansas Code § 20-18-305.
What Information Shows Up in Arkansas Vital Records?
Arkansas vital records are official documents that provide details about significant life events of individuals born, married, divorced, or died in Arkansas. These records are crucial for legal, genealogical, and personal purposes. They are generated and maintained by the Arkansas Department of Health and are available to interested and eligible members of the public.
What Do I Need to Search for Arkansas Vital Records Online?
Generally, all eligible requesters must be able to provide basic information about the vital record of interest, including:
- The full name of the individual named on the record.
- The reason for the request.
- The date the life event occurred.
- The place where the event occurred.
- Proof of ID showing the requester's direct relationship to the named parties on the record.
- Valid identification
How Do I Obtain Vital Records in Arkansas?
The Arkansas Department of Health maintains all forms of vital records. Parties can request vital records online, by mail, or in person at the local county health departments.
The first step to obtaining a vital record in is completing the proper vital records request form. Parties must also pay the search and copy costs. Restricted records require requesters to provide legitimate identification before obtaining the record. Requesting parties must also fill out the request form for the specific record they wish to access.
Publicly available vital records are managed and disseminated by some third-party aggregate sites. These sites are generally not limited by geographical record availability and may serve as a convenient jump-off point when researching specific or multiple records. However, third-party sites are not government-sponsored. As such, record availability may differ from official channels. To find a record using the search engines on third-party sites, the requesting party will be required to provide:
- The location of the record in question, including the city, county, or state where the case was filed.
- The name of someone involved, provided it is not a juvenile.
Requesters must provide relevant information associated with the record to conduct an online search for vital records. Some of these include:
- The registrant's name
- Date of the event
- Place of the event
- City or county where the life event occurred
- First and last name of parents
- Presiding judge (for marriage or divorce records)
Certified Copy vs Informational Copy: Understanding the Difference
While both certified and uncertified copies of a vital record contain similar information, uncertified copies are printed on plain white papers with the mark "uncertified" or "informational" boldly imprinted on the document. For this reason, uncertified copies are used only for informational purposes and are unacceptable for official purposes. On the other hand, certified copies can be used to establish identity.
Are Arkansas Marriage Records Public Information?
State laws consider Arkansas marriage records private. As such, these records are available to only eligible persons, such as the couple, immediate family members, and the legal representatives of these persons. Likewise, authorized genealogists and persons with a certified court order can obtain marriage records in Arkansas. However, these restrictions do not apply after the statutory confidentiality period of 100 years elapses, and interested persons may obtain public marriage records.
How Do I Obtain Marriage Records in Arkansas?
The Department of Health is the central custodian of marriage records in Arkansas. Generally, there are four ways to obtain marriage records from this agency viz-a-viz:
- Making online application
- Submitting in-person requests
- Sending a mail request
- Requesting the record by phone
Interested persons may visit the vital records application portal to search and view marriage records for a standard processing fee of $5. Alternatively, the requester may visit the custodian's physical office during business hours days to submit a request. This service costs $10 per copy of the marriage record. Requests by mail typically require completing a marriage records application form accompanied by the appropriate ID and fees. Mail requests go to:
Arkansas Department of Health
Vital Records, Slot 44
4815 West Markham Street
Little Rock, AR 72205
How to Get an Arkansas Marriage Certificate
Contact the county clerk's office where the marriage license was issued to obtain an Arkansas marriage certificate. However, to be eligible to access an Arkansas marriage certificate, the requester must be one of the individuals named on the certificate. A legal representative of the persons named in the certificate and persons with a court order may also obtain a marriage certificate if they can prove their eligibility with supporting documents.
Are Arkansas Divorce Records Public Information?
Generally, Arkansas divorce records are only available to legally authorized individuals, such as the parties named on the record, immediate family members, and legal representatives. Persons with a certified court order can also request and obtain divorce records. However, these restrictions do not apply after the statutory period of confidentiality expires. Interested persons can request and obtain public divorce records after 100 years elapsed since the life event.
How Do I Obtain Divorce Records in Arkansas?
Interested persons can obtain divorce records online, in person, by mail, or by calling the record custodian on the phone. In anyways, requesters are required to provide the basic information, appropriate ID, and applicable fees before the request is processed. Specifically, mail-in requesters must send a completed divorce record application form accompanied with other required documents and fees to:
Arkansas Department of Health
Vital Records, Slot 44
4815 West Markham Street
Little Rock, AR 72205
Each copy of divorce records costs a non-refundable $10 fee, even if no records are found.
How to Get a Certified Divorce Certificate in Arkansas
Arkansas divorce certificates can be obtained from the county clerk's office where the divorce was granted or the Arkansas Department of Health. Only the named individuals, their legal representatives, or those with a court order can obtain a divorce certificate.
Are Arkansas Birth Records Public Information?
Certified Arkansas birth records are only available to the owners of the records as well as persons with a direct and tangible interest, such as their immediate family members, representative attorneys, and authorized genealogists.
How Do I Obtain Birth Records in Arkansas?
The Arkansas Department of Health maintains birth records created from February 1914 to date. Eligible persons can order birth certificates online, in person, or by mailing a completed birth record application form along with applicable fees and a copy of an acceptable ID to this record custodian:
Arkansas Department of Health
Vital Records, Slot 44
4815 West Markham Street
Little Rock, AR 72205
The cost of obtaining copies of birth records is $12 for the first copy and $10 for each additional copy requested simultaneously. These instructions and costs also apply to persons who wish to order birth certificate replacement in Arkansas.
Are Birth Certificates Public in Arkansas?
No. Arkansas birth certificates are not public records. The Arkansas Code Annotated §20-18-305 outlines the provisions for disclosing a birth certificate, limiting access to the individual, their parents, or a legal representative. To access a certified copy, requesters will also be required to present their ID (like a driver's license or international passport) and a payment to cover the certification cost. This payment may be made in cash or money order.
Are Arkansas Death Records Public Information?
Per state laws, Arkansas death records on recently deceased persons are not public records. Thus, only authorized requesters may obtain these records from the Arkansas Department of Health. The agency will only release death records to the deceased's immediate family members, designated representatives, and persons with a certified court order.
How Do I Obtain Death Records in Arkansas?
The Department of Health outlines instructions for eligible persons who wish to order death certificates online, in person, or by mail. In-person requesters must visit the record custodian's office during regular business hours and submit a request for death certificates. Of course, the requester must provide an acceptable ID or a court order authorizing access to the death record. Meanwhile, mail requesters must complete a death record application form, attach payment for applicable fees and ID, and mail the application packet to the record custodian in a self-addressed stamped envelope. The Department of Health charges $10 per copy of the death certificate:
Arkansas Department of Health
Vital Records, Slot 44
4815 West Markham Street
Little Rock, AR 72205
Death records become public records after 50 years have elapsed since the life event. The Department of Health maintains a repository of public death records and anyone may perform a death certificate search. Note that a death record search by name will return too many results, so the requester must add additional parameters, such as county of death or date of death to narrow down the search results. If the search confirms the availability of a public death certificate, the requester may order the death certificate online. Alternatively, the requester may print a completed application form and submit it by mail.
How Do I Obtain Sealed Vital Records in Arkansas?
Persons who wish to obtain sealed vital records must submit a petition to the court citing reasons that outweigh the statutory or legal reasons for sealing the record. The presiding judge shall consider the requester's reasons and grant or deny the request. Suppose the court grants the petition to unseal the record; in that case, the sitting judge will issue a certified court order granting the party legal authorization to obtain the sealed vital interest record.
What are Vital Statistics in Arkansas?
Arkansas vital statistics are data about vital events within the state's jurisdiction. This data is essential for tracking public health trends, informing policy decisions, and monitoring demographic changes. The Arkansas Department of Health is responsible for collating vital statistical information and issuing it to interested persons and organizations.
